Methods of and means for producing well fluids from multiple zones



Feb. 2s, 1961 C. C. BROWN METHODS OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING WELL FLUIDS FROM MULTIPLE ZONES Filed Deo. 3, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 m2. PIII Feb. 28, 1961 I c c: BROWN 2,973,036

METHODS 0F ANDMENS FOR PRODUCING WELL FLUIDS FROM MULTIPLE ZONES Filed Dec. 3, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Vee/'0 C. A@row/7 INVENTOR.

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METHODS 0F AND MEANS FOR PRoDUcING WELL BROWN FLUIDS FROM MULTIPLE ZONES Filed Dec. 3, 1956 Y 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 2s', 1961 c. c. BROWN 2,973,036

AND MEANS FOR PRODU G WELL METHODS OF FLUIDS FROM MULTIPLE ZON FiledV Dec. 3, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 C/Lce/o C. Brown INVENTOR.

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c. c. BROWN METHODS oF AND MEANS FOR PRODUOING WELL FLuIns FROM MULTIPLE ZONES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 3, 1956 1| v, W l l ,24 39 K :l

c i M l /3/ m l ll `g f a M i t: A |l 1 3a I i 55j f i f g l Il C/ce/a C. 70W/7 INVENTOIL United States Patent O METHODS OF AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING WELL FLUIDS FROM MULTIPLE ZONES Cicero C. Brown, 2,216 Campbell St., Houston, Tex.

Filed Dec. 3, 1956, Ser. No. 626,057

10 Claims. (Cl. 16S-46) Ihis invention relates to new and useful improvements in methods of and means for producing well fluids from multiple zones in a single well bore.

Where a well bore traverses more than one producing zone it is desirable to flow the well fluids from each zone to the surface separately from and without any commingling with the well fluids from the other zone and recently dual completion methods and apparatus have corne into general use. The usual dual completion or dual production methods and apparatus involve the running of two separate strings of tubing, one of which communicates with one zone and the other of which communicates with the second producing zone and obviously, in connection with the strings a suitable packer or packers for separating the producing zones must be lowered and set. Thus, the problems in connection with dual production are somewhat different and more complex than when only a single production string is employed.

Many well bores traverse as many as three or more producing zones and although it is recognized as desirable to produce from a plurality of zones in excess of two simultaneously and without commingling, it will be realized that due to space limitations of the well bore itself and for other reasons, the complexity of the problem is increased with each additional zone.

It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved method of and apparatus for producing from at least three producing zones, with production from each zone being entirely separate and independent of the other zones.

An important object is to provide a relatively simple apparatus which may be easily manipulated and positioned within a well bore and which includes packer elements for separating three producing zones, together with means permitting the three tubing or production strings to be run into and removed from the well separately from each other so that only one string need be manipulated at a time at the derrick floor.

An important object is to provide an apparatus, of the character described, wherein an uppermost packer element in the assembly which has all production strings extending therethrough or connected therewith is formed with openings of different diameters, for receiving the different production strings; said different diameter openings providing for an automatic selection of the particular string or strings which are to extend through said element and thereby assuring proper final positioning of the production strings within the well bore.

A further object is to provide an improved method of positioning a multiple production apparatus within a well bore in which at least three packer assemblies properly spaced in accordance with the location of the producing zones are run into the well simultaneously on one production string, after which the other production strings are separately run in and properly connected with the ice desired packer so that final positioning of all production tioned by means of a lowering pipe, which is then re- I moved and thereafter, the other required packer assemblies are connected to the first production string and are positioned by said string; the remaining production strings being subsequently run independently of each other and properly connected with the packer assemblies to establish separate communication between each production string and its respective producing zone.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus of the character described, which lends itself to removal of one of the production strings and closing off of the flow from that producing zone without interfering with the other production strings.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure l is a generally schematic illustration, showing the three well packer assemblies lowered into position within the well bore by means of the first production string,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l and illustrating the lower packer moved to a set or anchored position,

Figure 3 is a partial schematic view of the intermediate and upper well packer assemblies and illustrating the second production string mounted in pgsition with respect thereto, i

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 and illustrating the third production string in position within the well bore, f

40' Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the details of `construction of the upper well packer assembly,

Figure 6 is a continuation of Figure 5 and showing the details of construction of the intermediate well packer assembly, l

Figure 7 is a continuation of Figure 6 and illustrating the lower well packer assembly,

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating the connection between the third production string and the upper well packer assembly,

Figure 9 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 5,

Figure 10 is a horizontal cross sectional view taken on the line 10--10 of Figure 6,

Figure l1 is a horizontal cross sectional view, taken on the line 11-11 of Figure 6,

Figure 12 is an enlarged detail of the connection between the second production string and the intermediate well packer assembly,

Figure 13 is a generally schematic view of a modified method of positioning the apparatus within a well borev and illustrating the lower well packer assembly being lowered by means of a running or lowering pipe, and

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 and illustrating the upper and intermediate well packer assemblies lowered into position by means of the first production string which has its lower end extending through the lower well packer assembly.

In the drawings (Figures 1 to 4), the numeral 10 designates a well bore which is shown as traversing a lower production zone Z1, an intermediate producing zone Z2,

3 and an upper producing zone.Z3. The objective is to produce the well uids from the three zones Z1, .Z2 and Z3 without any commingling of the uids from the various zones and the particular apparatus and the method of positioning the same, which constitutes the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

Referring to Figure 1 a lower well packer assembly P1 is adapted to be connected to the lower portion of a first production string A by a shear pin connection indicated at 11. The production string A, although comprised of various connected sections extends entirely through the well bore and may be the usual well tubing. Also mounted upon the first production string A is an intermediate packer assembly P2 which is preferably attached as by threading to.said string. An upper packer assembly P3 is also mounted upon the production string A and is lowered therewith into the well bore. Since all three packer assemblies are attached to the lirst production string A said packers are lowered simultaneously within the well bore by means of said string. The spacing between the packer assemblies is predetermined in accordance with the location of the producing zones Z1, Z2 and Z3 so that when said packer assemblies are in their final positions within the bore, the lower assembly P1 is located between the lower producing zone Z1 and the intermediate producing zone Z2; the intermediate packer P2 is disposed between the intermediate zone Z2 and the upper zone Z3, While the upper packer assembly P3 is located above the upper zone Z3.

After the packer assemblies have been lowered into position within the well bore as illustrated in Figure l, the production string A is lifted upwardly to shear the pin 11 and to set the lower packer assembly P1 in anchored position within the well bore, as is illustrated in Figure 2. Thereafter the production string is lowered to cause an external shoulder 12 on the string A to engage the upper portion of the lower packer assembly P1 so as to impose sufhcient weight upon an annular packing sleeve 13 to expand the latter into sealing position. At the same time ports or openings 14 in the lower portion of the production string are moved into the area below the lower well packer assembly P1 so as to establish a communication between the producing zone Z1 and the interior of the production string A. Thus well fluids owing from the lower zone Z1 may enter the bore of the production string A and may flow upwardly through said string to the surface. The packer assembly P1 will of course segregate the lower producing zone Z1 from the other producing zones.

When the lower packer assembly P1 has been set and communication established between the lower zone Z1 and the iirst production string A, the intermediate packer P2 and the upper packer assembly P3 are properly located. The packer P2 segregates the zone Z2 from the upper zone Z3 and thus well uids from zone Z2 may enter only the area between the intermediate pack'- er P2 and the lower packer P1.

The packer assembly P2 is provided with a vertical bore or passage 15 which is adapted to receive the lower end of a second production string B (Figure 3). This second production string is arranged to extend through a vertical bore or passage 16 which is formed in the upper packer assembly P3. The upper packer assembly P3 also has a second bore or passage 17 which, as will be explained is arranged to receive a third production string C (Figure 4).

Following the setting or anchoring of the lower packer P1 as shown in Figure 2, the second production string B is lowered downwardly and its lower portion has a diameter which will enter the bore or passage 16 in the upper packer P3. The bore 17 which is also in the upper packer P3 is of a smaller diameter than the bore or passage 16 and therefore the production string B can not enter passage 17. Upon entering the passage 16 the production string is lowered until its lowermost end enters the bore 15 in the intermediate packer assembly P2. A suitable J-connection 18 detachably connects the sec-` ond production string B with'the intermediate packer assembly P2. The lower end of the second production string B is in communication with the zone Z2 and the well uids from this zone are conducted upwardly to the surface through the second production string.

It is noted that the bore 15 in the intermediate packer assembly P2 is provided with an equalizing port 19 which permits equalization across the packer elements 20 of the intermediate packer assembly during the lowering operation. 'Phe second production string B is formed with packing rings 21 which when the production string is in place are disposed one on each side of the equalizing port 19 to seal off said port. Similarly, the bore 16 in the upper packer P3 is provided with an equalizing port 22 which is sealed off by spaced packing rings 23 on the production string B when said string is in place. The equalizing port 22 permits equalization of pressures across the packing elements 24 of the upper packing assembly P3.

After the second production string is in place, as shown in Figure 3 the third production string C is lowered and its lower end is adpatcd to enter the bore 17 provided in the upper well packer assembly P3 (Figure 4). A suitable detachable connection such as a J-slot and piu generally indicated at 25 permits connection of the lower end of the third production string C with the upper packer assembly P3. Suitable packing elements 26 on the lower end of the production string C seal oi an equalizing port 27 which is provided in the bore 17 and which permits equalization of pressures across the packing elements 24 of the uppermost packer assembly. The lower end of the third production string C is in communication with the upper producing zone Z3 and the well uids from that zone may be conducted to the surface through said third production string.

It is evident that with the apparatus shown in Figures l to 4, all three packers are lowered simultaneously with the first production string A. After the lowermost packer is anchored in position, the intermediate and upper packer assemblies are properly located and thereafter the second production string B may be lowered as a separate string. The second production string cannot enter the bore 17 of the upper packer assembly P3 because this bore is of a smaller diameter than the lower portion of said production string and therefore the second string B is caused to enter the bore or passage 16 in the upper packer assembly and then moves downwardly into the bore 15 of the intermediate packer assembly P2. By proper manipulation of said second production string the J-slot connection 18 connects the lower end of said string to the intermediate packer assembly and the second zone Z1 may be produced through this string.

Thereafter the third production string C is run into the well bore independently of the other two strings which are already in position and a connection is made through the J-slot connection 25 between the lower end ofthe ythird string C and the upper packer assembly P3. The upper zone Z3 may then beproduced through the third production string. it is evident that if the second production string must be removed, this can be accomplished without interfering with the other production strings. It might occur that the intermediate zone Z2 may discontinue flowing and if so the second production string B could be removed and a suitable plug lowered into the bore 15 of the intermediate well packer P2 so as to close off any communication with this zone. Similarly if the zone Z3 dscontinues producing, the third production string C may be removed and a suitable plug introduced into the bore 17 to shut off communication. Of course iow through the production string A can be shut ol by suitable valves at the surface. Also if it is not desired to remove any of the production strings, each may be independently controlled through proper valving at thesurface. There is no commngling of the production from the various zones and each prclad'uctionA string functionsk independently of the other two.

Any type of well packer assemblies adaptable for the purpose may be employed but in Figures 6 to 12 a preferred type of apparatus is illustrated; However it is pointed out that v the present invention is not to be restricted to any particu-lar kind of a well packer assembly,`the only requirement being that lthe proper openings or passages be provided in the upper and intermediate packer assemblies'. In Figures Sand 8, the upper well packer assembly P3 is illustrated in more'detail.

This well packer assembly includes -a central body-30 having the lip-type packing elements 24 secured to its upper and lower portions. may be provided'with slip or gripping members 31 which may be molded therein and which are adapted to engage the wall of the casing 32 which is positioned within the Each packing element 24' As explained. the Vlower portion of the production. string A is provided with anv external shoulder 12 which when the pin 11 has been-l sheared is adapted to engage the upper end of the mandrel 41 whereby a downward weight may be imposed upont he mandrel. Fluidv pressure below the packer P1 and acting against the cup 53 will move the lower slipv expanderStl upwardly to expand slips 45.

Pressureacting downwardly on the cup 42 will be transl mitted through the mandrel and through the packing-element 13 onto the upper-'slip expander 43 to further sct the slips. The weight of the production string A acting on the mandrel through shoulder 12 will result in a distortion of the elastic packing sleeve 13 and thus the lower packer assembly effectively seals with the casing 32 within the well-bore 10. It might be noted that the sleeve 13 adds its seal to the seal effected by the pressure actuated well bore 10.' The body 30 has the passages 16 and 17 is in fact supported by the first pro'- 25 the lip-type packing elements 20 secured to'its upper and lower ends. These packing elements may have gripping slips 35v molded therein so that when pressure is applied to the packing elements theslips are moved into engaged or gripping position.. The body 34 of the intermediate packer assembly has the vertical passage or bore 15 for receiving the second production string B ,l

and in addition has a second vertical bore 36 which is connected with and in communication with the bore of' the first production string A. Thus the-intermediate packer assembly is carried by the production string. In orderto guidefthe lower end of the second production string B into the bore 15, the upper end of the body 34 may be formed within an inclined guide surface 37. Also to assure that the lower end of the production string B will be moved off-center so that it may more readily find the bore 15, the lower end of the production string B may be formed with a kick-out spring 38.v As shown in Figure 12 this spring is mounted within a recess y39 in the outer surface of the lower portion of the production string B and has its lower end attached as by a rivet 40 to the production string. The main portion of the spring 38 normally extends outwardly and would tend to kick the lower portion of the production string off-center as it is lowered into position above the intermediate packer assembly.

The production string C, as shown in Figure 8 may be formed with asimilar kick-out spring 38 at its lower end so that the production string C will be more readily guided into its passage or bore 17.

The lower packer assembly P1 is illustrated in detail in Figure 7 and includes a mandrel 41` which has the elastic packing element 13 mounted thereon. An upwardly directed cup-type packing 42. is secured to the upper end of the mandrel 41. The mandrel 41 telescopes an annular slip expander element 43. Surrounding the expander is a sleeve 44 which carries gripping slips 45 which are movable radially within openings 46 formed in the sleeve. The sleeve 44 also has a limited telescoping movement with respect to the expander, this connection being made through slots 47 and pins 48. Friction springs 49 secured to the sleeve frictionally engage the wall of the pipe and tend to hold the sleeve, as well as the slips carried thereby stationary, A lower slip expander 50 is mounted by means of pins 51 and slots 52 for limited telescoping movement with respect to the sleeve 44 and the lower end of this slip expander carries a downwardly directed packing cup 53.

packing cups 42 and 53 which'not onlyseal but also assure that the gripping slips 45 will remain in' anchored position.4 With the packer in set position'th'eports 14 in the lower'end of the production string A are placed in communication with the `lower zone Z1.

As pointed out above the well'packer assemblies illustrated in Figures 6 to l2 have been found satisfactory for the purpose butany suitable 'well packer which is now known in the art will be satisfactory.

In Figures 1 to 4 the method of positioning the apparatus has been shown and described with the three packer assemblies being lowered simultaneously on the first pro'i duction string A. However the invention contemplates that the packers may be positioned in other ways and in Figures 13 and 14 a modified method of placement of the packers is illustrated. In this form the lower packer` assembly `P1 -is first lowered by means of a lowering or running-in pipe 60 which is suitably connected through a shear pin 61 with the packer P1. When the packer P1 is properly located above the zone Z1, an upward movement 'of the running-in pipe will shear the pin and will result in uid pressures across vt-he packer setting the slips 45 thereof. The running-in pipe may then be completely removed from the well and the first production string A having the upper packer P3 and the intermediate packer P2 connected thereto may then be lowered. In this case the production string would be provided with an extension pipe 61 which would be provided with a shoulder 12a similar to the external shoulder 12 which would seat on the upper portion of the mandrel 41 of the lower packer assembly P1. The extension 61 is provided with ports 14a in its lower end which ports would be located in communication with the zone Z1 when the packers P2 and P3 are properly positioned. The second production string B and the third production string C would then be run vinto the well in the manner hereinbefore described.

Obviously, inthe form shown in Figures 13 and 14 the lowermost packer is first positioned independently of any production string and thereafter the other two packer assemblies are lowered into position and properly located when the first production string A is run into the well. Both forms of the invention would of course include the difference in bore diameters between the bore or passage 17 in the upper packer P3 and the bore 16 in said packer. It is this difference in diameter which assures that the second production string will move downwardly through the upper packer assembly P3 and into position for connection with the intermediate well packer. In both cases the production strings may be run into the well separately and independently of all other strings which greatly simplilies the actual running in operation because only one pipe string need be handled at a time at the surface of the well. When the three production strings are in position, each is in communication with its respective producing zone and there is no possibility of commingling of the well fluids. Furthermore, each zone may be produced independently under independent control through its particular string.

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ducing from three zones itisconceivable that it could bei. applied to production from four to' live zones provlded A that there would be sufficient space to run four or five pipes or strings within the well. Through the use of smaller well tubing it is conceivable that four or five i strings could be lowered within ya single well bore. Where additional zones are to be produced, the apparatus would include additional well packer assemblies with the uppermost assemblies having the bores or passages 1. A well production apparatusifor producing well fluids from a plurality of producing zones and including, a plurality of packer assemblies mounted within the well bore and disposed between the producing zones to separate said zones, -a production string for each zone having its lower end in communication with the zone and its` 'upper end extending -to the surface, the uppermost packer assembly having a plurality of openings therethrough with all of the production strings except the production string having communication with the zone immediately below said uppermost packer assembly extending entirely through said packer assembly, each production string which extends through said upper packer assembly projecting downwardly and terminating at a different one of the packer assemblies therebelow, whereby each string communicates with one of the producing zones and each zone is separately produced through its production string, means connecting all of said packer assemblies with one of the production strings whereby all of said packer assemblies are lowerable by means of said string, the other of said production strings lowerable within the well bore independently of said production string to which the packer assemblies are connected.

2. A well production apparatus as' set forth in claim l, vwherein iat least three packer assemblies are employed to separate production from at least three producing zones and also wherein at least three production strings extend from the zones to the surface.

3. A well production apparatus for producing well fluids from a lower producing zone, an' intermediate producing zone and an upper producingzone, said appavratus including, a lower packer assembly between the lower and intermediate zones, an intermediate packer assembly between the intermediate and upper zones, an upper packer. assembly -above the upper zone, a first production string having the upper and intermediate packer assemblies mounted thereon so as to be lowerable therewith into the well bore and having its lower en d extending through the lower packer assembly and in communication with the lower producing zone, a second production string extending through the upper packer, assembly and detachably connected with the intermediate packer assembly, said second production string having its lower end in communication with the intermediate producing zone, and a third production string detachably connected with the upper packer assembly and having-its lower end in communication with the upper' zone.

4. A well production apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the upper packer assembly has a first opening in which the first production string is attached and has a second opening through which the second production string extends and further has a thi-rd opening in which the third production string is detachably connected, said third opening being of a lesser diameter than the second opening. y

5. A well production .apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the upper packer assembly has a first opening in which 4the first production string is attached, and has a second opening th-rough which the second productionstring extends and vfurther has a third opening in which the third production string isdetachably connected, said third opening being of a lesser diameter than the second opening, the diameter of that portion of the second production string which extends through said upper packer assembly being larger than the diameter of the thirdopening in said upper packer assembly, whereby said second production string cannot enter said third opening. g

6. A well production apparatus for producing well vfluids from-a lower producing zone, an intermediate producing zone and an upper producing zone, said apparatus including, a lower Npacker assembly between the lower and intermediate zones, an intermediate packer assemblybetween the intermediate and upper-zones, an upper packer assembly above the upper zone, a first production string having the packer assemblies mounted thereon in predetermined spaced relationship so that said assemblies may be lowered with said string and properly positioned in the well bore, said first production string being in communication with the lower producing zone, a second production string extending through the upper packer assembly and landed in the intermediate packer, said second production string having its lower end in communication with the intermediate producing zone, and av third production vstring landed in the upper packer assembly and having its lower end in communication with the upper zone.

7. A Well ,production -apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the upper packer has a first opening in which the first production string is connected and also has a second opening through which the second production string extends, said upper packer assembly also having a third opening in which the third production string is landed, said th-ird opening being of lesser diameter than the second opening.

8. A well production apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the upper packer -has a first opening in which the, first production string is connected and also has a second opening through which the second production string extends, said upper packer assembly also having a third opening in which the third production string is landed, said third opening being of lesser diameter than the second opening, the diameter of that portion of the second string which extends through the upper packer assembly being larger in diameter than the diameter of the third opening, whereby said second production string cannot` enter said third opening.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the second production string is detachably connected with the intermediate packer assembly, vand also wherein the third prorduction string is detachably connected with the upper packer assembly.

10. The method of positioning in the well bore a well production apparatus -for producing well fluids from a lower producing zone,A an intermediate producing zone, and an upper producing'zone; said method including, lowering and setting a lower well packer of the type which is releasable from its setting mechanism between and separating the lower and intermediate producing zones, lowering in the well bore a first production string having upper and intermediate well packers mounted thereon in spaced relationship and engageable with the wall of the well bore to separate the intermediatev andy Huid communication between the interior of the second string and the intermediate zone, and lowering a third production string exteriorly of and parallel to the first and second strings and landing said third production string in the upper packer after the first string is in place, said third production string providing for uid communication between the interior of the third stn'ng and the upper zone.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Waitz May 31. 1932 Saurenman Ian. 30, 1945 Rhodes Aug. 5, 1952 Childers Jan. 12, 1954 True Mar. 19, 1957 

